La Familia

AllMusic Review
by Scott Yanow

This is a typically exciting effort from Poncho Sanchez and his popular Latin jazz band. The three-horn, three-percussion octet (which includes trumpeter Sal Cracchiolo, trombonist Art Velasco, pianist Charlie Otwell and the leader on conga and lead vocals) is joined on two numbers by altoist Gary Foster, who was on the band's debut Concord release six years earlier. In addition to some group originals (Otwell wrote the exciting "La Familia"), Sanchez performs numbers by Eddie Palmieri, Thelonious Monk ("Well You Needn't") and Johnny Mandel ("A Time for Love"), plus the R&B-ish "Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man" and a medley of "Mambo Inn" and "On Green Dolphin Street." An excellent, enjoyable set.